A book recently launched by Literature Publishing House features
Vietnamese and foreign writers including the great To Hoai.
Entitled Chuyen Lang Van (Stories about Literature Circles), the work
comprises interviews and writings by author Di Li, whose real name is
Nguyen Dieu Linh, a free-lance columnist for several periodicals.
The piece on To Hoai, recorded when he was 82, focuses on literature
for children and his views about the young writer generation.
"The interview gave me an excuse to meet one of the writers I admire
the most. Unlike his humorous writing style, in real life he appears
calm, serious and a little unfriendly," Di Li said.
"He keeps on top of current issues, which explains his profound understanding of modern life."
To Hoai, real name Nguyen Sen, was born in 1920. Regarded as "a great,
ancient tree" of the Vietnamese literary circle, he is known for works
such as De Men Phieu Luu Ky (The Adventure of a Cricket, 1941), Truyen
Tay Bac (Story of the Northwest, 1953) and Phuong Tay (The West, 1967).
In addition, he is one of the few famous writers from the
pre-revolutionary period still alive.
Other
portraits included in Stories about Literature Circles centre on
veterans Kim Lan, Phan Thi Thanh Nhan and Tran Dang Khoa as well as
up-and-coming writers Vi Thuy Linh and Do Hoang Dieu alongside foreign
authors from the US, Germany, Italy, Australia, France, Denmark, Japan,
and South Korea.
Di Li is a member of the Vietnam
Writers Association. She has published 11 books and is especially known
for Trai Hoa Do (Red Flower Farm), which is the first mystery horror
produced in the country.-VNA